13 Sep 201804:52am IST

13 Sep 201804:52am IST

PTI, CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday said it was confident that Governor Banwarilal Purohit will respect people's feelings which reflect in the cabinet's recommendation for release of the seven convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The state cabinet recommended to Purohit the release of Nalini, her husband Sriharan alias Murugan, Perarivalan, Robert Payas, Jayakumar, Ravichandran and Santhan on September 9.

"The government is confident that Governor Purohit will realise the Tamil people's feelings and expectations and take a good decision at an appropriate time," Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar told reporters here.

He said the government is also "confident" that the governor will "take an expeditious decision" in the matter. Asked if the government would mount pressure in case Purohit delays the decision, he said he cannot answer a hypothetical question. The cabinet has taken the decision only in view of the urgency of the issue, Jayakumar added.

The governor, the minister said, can act only on the aid and advice of the cabinet, which is the collective voice of the people of Tamil Nadu.

"We have sent in the communication on cabinet decision the same day (Sept 9) to the governor. Prison department's recommendations and the jail records of convicts have also been sent," Jayakumar said.